continued… After seeing the entire Continental Army encampment, we went over to the farm. This recreation was based on a real farm owned by Edward Moss that had existed at that time. We don’t remember the details now, but he had a lot of acres, so this was a tiny microcosm of what the actual farm was like.

The house was two rooms. There was a spindle wheel in the parlor, and “Edward” was making thread. He explained that prior to the rebellion, textiles were imported from England. But when the Patriots had ordered a boycott of all British goods, people had to start making their own textiles. He said that thread was made out of a variety of materials. The easiest and most popular yarn material was wool, but today he was using cotton. Even though cotton grew well in Virginia, it was unpopular because it was difficult to separate the seeds out (the cotton gin had not yet been invented).

Friday, August 1 – Since Eric and Keith were still on west coast time, they slept much later than normal. Our plan was to go back to Williamsburg to go to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, which was about 20-miles east of Jamestown. Yorktown was the town where the final major military engagement in the American Revolution took place in 1781. The British had set up a base at Yorktown. Washington marched his troops down from New York for a siege on the base. The French navy secured the Chesapeake, so no British supplies or reinforcements could get in to aid the troops in Yorktown, nor could the British escape. After the Patriots won this battle, a peace treaty was negotiated and signed, giving the United States sovereignty over itself.

Like Jamestown, there were two different historical attractions. One was an archeological tour run by the National Parks Service (NPS) and the other was a “living history museum” — meaning it was a recreation of what life was like back then — which was run by the same organization that ran the Jamestown Settlement.

The day was grey and very windy, and felt kind of ominous. However, there was no rain in the forecast and the temperature was pleasant. It was a nice change from the oppressive heat that we’ve experienced since arriving in Virginia.

The museum opened at 0900, but between the late start and traffic, we arrive until 1100. Parking was free. The tickets were $22 for 13+, so $2 more per person than the Jamestown Settlement. Like Jamestown, there was a large, nicely laid out and beautifully decorated indoor museum and an outside area with recreations of what life was like towards the end of the War of Independence.